Fungus: Shiitake Mushroom

Shiitake Mushroom

Medicinal mushrooms have an established history of use in traditional oriental therapies. Contemporary research has validated and documented much of the ancient knowledge. Over the last three decades, the interdisciplinary fields of science that study medicinal mushrooms has sprung up and has increasingly demonstrated the potent and unique properties of compounds extracted from a range of species. Currently, the field is being developed into a very fruitful area. Modern clinical practice in Japan, China, Korea and other Asian countries rely on mushroom-derived preparations. Mushrooms have been studied for nutritional and medical purposes for its various potential anti-tumoral and immunomodulatory components like polysaccharides that have been identified.

For medical purposes, mushrooms have been consumed to prevent cancer and cardiac diseases, to improve blood circulation, and to reduce blood cholesterol level. Some of these mushrooms have also been used for the treatment of physical and emotional stress, osteoporosis, gastric ulcers, and chronic hepatitis, for the improvement of the quality of life of patients with diabetes, and especially for the stimulation of the immune system. Shiitake has a history of medicinal uses. The mushroom has been and is used as anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-fungal, antibacterial, and antiviral, just to name a few.

Studied Benefits of the Shiitake

Anticarcinogenic

Reduction of Tumors

Improve Liver Function

Reduces Cholesterol

Supports Cardiovascular System

Increases Immune Function

Antibacterial properties

Antiviral properties

Antioxidant

Anti-fungal properties

Reduces Thrombosis

Lowers Blood Pressure

Assists with Weight Loss

Improves Skin Appearance

Resources to Dive Into

Chang ST. World production of cultivated edible and medicinal mushrooms in 1997 with emphasis on Lentinus edodes (Berk.) Sing. In China. Int J Med Mushr 1999;1:387-409.

Smith J, Rowan N, Sullivan R. Medicinal mushrooms. Their therapeutic properties and current medical usage with special emphasis on cancer treatment; Special Report Commissioned by Cancer research UK. The University of Strathclyde in Glasgow 2002; p 256.